Dracocephalum moldavica seed

LATIN NAME: Dracocephalum moldavica

COMMON NAME: Dragonhead

The dragonhead spikes the whorls of the blue-violet flowers up the slender, four-angled stems, the lemon-scented leaves below, and the whole plant carries the fine, fresh look of the sunny herb bed. The hardy, annual herb carries the narrow, lance-shaped, lemon-scented leaves along the erect, four-angled stems, and the blue-violet, two-lipped flowers in the dense, whorled clusters up the slender, terminal spikes through the early summer, one of the fresh, bright sights of the sunny herb bed, drawing the bees, to be followed by the small, smooth, brownish nutlets. The lemon-scented leaves have a very long record as the fine, scented herb of the old gardens, and the plant is a historic presence of the sunny herb bed. It is a plant of the open, sunny, light, well-drained ground.

Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology

The dragonhead is a historic subject of the plant science, and the lemon scent keep showing up in the work on the aromatic herbs. The way the blue-violet, two-lipped flowers form in the dense, whorled clusters has been studied at length, and it keeps appearing in the studies of the aromatic herbs, the four-angled stems and the members of the mint family. The lemon scent and the fresh habit have also made it a fine study herb, and the dragonhead is a regular subject of the work on the lemon scents of the cool world.

Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications

The dragonhead is a fresh, useful plant of the sunny herb bed and the study collection. The narrow, lance-shaped, lemon-scented leaves along the erect, four-angled stems carry the fresh look of the sunny herb bed, one of the fresh, bright sights of the sunny herb bed, drawing the bees, and the lemon-scented leaves have a very long record as the fine, scented herb of the old gardens, the fresh leaves coming to the old teas, the pot-pourri and the steady herb beds of the old gardens, while the blue-violet, two-lipped flowers in the dense, whorled clusters up the slender, terminal spikes open through the early summer, to be followed by the small, smooth, brownish nutlets. It is one of the fine choices for the sunny herb bed, the scented border and the study collection, and it has been written up in the horticultural and the culinary papers for the lemon scent and the very long history. It is a fresh, useful plant of the open, sunny, light, well-drained garden.

The dragonhead seeds like a chalky, gritty mix kept lightly moist in full sun. The young plants are quick and fragrant, and they grow on well in the light, well-drained ground of the sunny border.

To grow the dragonhead from seed, sow the small, smooth seeds thinly across the top of the tray of chalky, gritty soil, water gently, then keep the tray in a bright, open spot. The seedlings appear within a couple of weeks, and they grow on steadily. With the sun and the light, well-drained ground, the blue-violet spikes will rise over the summer.

Uses: Aromatic
Widely distributed, Dragonhead is a bushy annual with attractive
blue / lilac flowers and aromatic lemon scented foliage.
Growing to around 30 – 60 cm tall, short spikes
of flowers are produced in summer.

This plant is attractive to bees and butterflies.

This plant has a history of being used as a herbal medicine,
can be used in the treatment of migraines, and as an antioxidant.

(Moldavian Balm) A tall plant with handsome dark green lemon-scented leaves, its appearance is reminiscent of hyssop or lavender, with showy lavender-blue flowers reaching 45cm/18? A nice addition to bee and butterfly gardens, the plant will bloom most of the summer. It has naturalized and grows wild in some Canadian provinces and central and Eastern U.S. states, preferring hillsides and rocky locales. Dragonhead is an easy plant and can be direct-sown into the garden when the soil warms up in the spring. Although it is somewhat bothered by insects and disease, it is tough and will come back over and over. An unusual and potentially breathtaking component in a mixed border, herb garden, or rock garden, Dragonhead will do best in full sun to part shade in well-drained soil where there is no risk of over-watering. Excellent beeplant.